Buchholzia coriacea Engl. is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Capparidaceae. It has antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antidiabetic and antihypercholesterol activities.  The aim of this study was to employ the quality control parameters in the evaluation of the leaf of B. coriacea. The plant leaves were collected, air dried, pulverized and stored in a clean glass container. Standard procedures were carried out to obtain the microscopic features of the fresh and powdered samples, micromeritic, chemomicroscopy, fluorescence properties, soluble extractive values, moisture contents and ash values.  The results of the microscopic study using fresh and powdered leaf samples revealed the presence of anomocytic stomata on the abaxial surface (hypostomatic) with mean length of 31.8 ± 0.6 cm. The cell shape was polygonal and straight anticlinal cell wall pattern. Results of the micromeritic properties of the powdered sample showed bulk volume of 31.00± 0.70cm, tapped volume of 25.1± 0.20 cm, bulk density of 0.32 ± 0.01g/m, tapped density of 0.39± 0.01g/ml, flow rate of 2.2 ± 0.08g/s, angle of repose of 26.1 ± 1.3 degrees, Carr’s index of 18.9± 1.35 %, Hausner’s ratio of 1.23 ± 0.02, pH of 8.0 when cold and 8.2 when hot for the powdered sample liquid extract. The results of the chemomicroscopic study revealed the presence of lignin, mucilage, calcium oxalate crystals, oil, calcium carbonate, but starch was absent. Results for the ethanol-soluble extractive value was 7 ± 0.00%    , water-soluble extractive value was 14 ± 0.00%   and methanol-soluble extractive value was 3 ± 0.00%  for the powdered samples. Results for the moisture content was 10.3 ± 0.00% , total ash values was 6.3± 0.00% , acid-insoluble ash value was 1 ± 0.00% , water-soluble ash value was 3±0.00%  and sulfated ash values was 7.5 ± 0.00% . In conclusion, the above evaluation methods and parameters there in could be used to identify and authenticate both the fresh and powdered crude drug product of Buchholzia coriacea.

The antimicrobial activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the leaves of four medicinal plants, Carica papaya (CP), Moringa oleifera (MO), Mangifera indica (MI) and Garcinia kola (GK) were assessed against selected gram positive and gram-negative bacteria. Method of synthesis of nanoparticles utilized was the eco-friendly Bio-based method using plant leaves extract as reducing and stabilizing agents. Two different ratios for each plant extract and silver nitrate (1:1 and 1:2) respectively were used. Particle characterization was carried out using visual inspection and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using agar diffusion method. Visual inspection revealed gradual color change from golden yellow to dark brown, confirming nanoparticles formation. The surface plasmon resonance peak was between 416 and 438 nm for the silver nanoparticles. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 3.125 - 12.5µg/ml. In conclusion, all four biogenic silver nanoparticles have reasonable antimicrobial activity with ratio 1:2 being more potent.

Jatropha tanjorensis J.L. Ellis & Saroja. (Euphorbiaceae) is a shrub commonly used as an edible vegetable and is also used as a tonic herb. The study was aimed to evaluate pharmacognostic parameters of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves. The plant leaves were collected, air-dried, pulverized and stored in a clean glass container. Standard procedures were employed to obtain the microscopic features of the fresh and powdered samples, micromeritic, chemomicroscopy, fluorescence properties, moisture content, ash values and soluble extractive values were also carried out. The results of the microscopic studies using the fresh and powered leaf samples revealed the presence of anomocytic, anomalous and paracytic stomata on the abaxial surface and anomocytic stomata on the adaxial surface. The plant sample also possessed unicellular trichomes. Results of micromeritic properties of the powdered samples show bulk volume of 38.67±0.7, tapped volume of 30.00±0.4, bulk density of 0.26±0.00, tapped  density of 0.33±0.00, angle of repose of 350, Carr’s Index of 22.96±2.15, Hausner’s ratio of 1.27±0.03, pH of 7.51 and 7.52 when hot and cold respectively. Chemomicroscopy studies revealed the presence of lignin, mucilage, calcium oxalate crystals, starch and oil in the powdered leaf. Results for moisture contents was 18.33±0.01% w/w, total ash value was 9.33±0.00%w/w, acid-insoluble ash value was 0.67±0.01%w/w, water-soluble ash value was 4.0±0.00%w/w and sulfated ash value was 14±0.01%w/w. Results for ethanol-soluble extractive value was 15±0.00%w/w, methanol-soluble extractive value was 19±0.00%w/w and water-soluble extractive value was 27±0.01%w/w. In conclusion, the above evaluation and parameters could be used to establish pharmacopoeial standard of both fresh and powdered drug of Jatropha tanjorensis.

Background: Gnetum africanum Welw (Gnetaceae) also called African salad and Afang in Ibibio language is an evergreen, perennial, shade-tolerant vine with woody stems which can climb up to 12m or more from a tuberous root-stock. It has culinary and medicinal importance. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacognostic parameters of Gnetum africanum. Methods: The leaves were identified, collected, air-dried, pulverized, weighed and subjected to the evaluation of its microscopy, micromeritics, chemomicroscopy, fluorescence, soluble extractive values, moisture content and ash values using standard procedures. Results: The results obtained from microscopy revealed that the leaf has brachyparacytic, stomata, 3-5 armed and stellate trichromes on the abaxial surface. The epidermal cell wall pattern was undulate on the abaxial surface and sinuous on the adaxial surface. Stomatal number was found to be 3.1 ± 0.25 on the abaxial surface and Stomatal index was found to be 16.8% on the abaxial surface. The micromeritics analysis of the leaf powder revealed passable flow with the angle of repose of 420. The result of chemomicroscopy of the leaf revealed the presence of mucilage, lignin, calcium oxalate crystals, starch and oil. For water-soluble extractive value, the result was 13.25%w/w, methanol-soluble extractive value 4.25%w/w, ethanol-soluble extractive value 4%w/w, moisture content 10.5%w/w, total ash value was 5%w/w, acid-insoluble ash value 1%w/w, water-soluble ash value 2%w/w and sulfated- ash value 6% w/w. Conclusion: The results obtained from the pharmacognostic study provides information for the identity, quality and purity of Gnetum africanum.